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My Philosophy

Dr. Ritterman and farmstand director Shyaam Shabaka
at the weekly Farm Fresh Produce Stand

Health is not just the absence of disease but a state of physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It requires living in accord with our natural biological rhythms. We are by our very nature Hunter Gatherers, descendants of forest dwellers who hunted and gathered their food. To be true to who we are biologically, we must be physically active and eat foods low in fat. You can find a wide assortment of pesticide-free fresh fruits and vegetables at our weekly Farm Fresh Produce Stand every Tuesday from 11 am-2pm in front of the medical center. The produce is sold at wholesale price to make sure everyone can afford it. Often we forget our biological heritage and engage in activities which are not healthy for us. Many of us spend hours in front of the tv or computer, engage in minimal physical activity and eat foods high in calories and fat. These unhealthy life-style choices predispose us to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. What can we do to improve our chances of living long, healthy, enjoyable lives? Learn more about healthy eating and the benefits of healthy physical activity.
Get Moving! Add Steps to Your Day
Physical Activity

The Beloved Community; A Civil Rights Dream and a Public Health Necessity:

Medical researchers are discovering that people who live in caring and trusting communities live longer, healthier lives than those who live in noncaring mistrustful ones. Loving and helping your neighbor is not just a nice thing to do. It also results in better health for you and your neighbors. Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of the Beloved Community, a place where each individual was treated with dignity and respect. It turns out that not only is this a beautiful vision, it is also essential if we are to live long, healthy, enjoyable lives.

Health and Mother Nature:

In addition to making healthy personal choices (healthy eating, adequate physical activity, avoiding tobacco products), and helping to build the Beloved Community, our health is dependent on our relationship with the natural world. We are part of an awesome web of life which nourishes and sustains us. We cannot expect to live healthy lives if we don't live in balance with nature. When we pollute our environment, we suffer as well. Every year people suffer serious illnesses and even death as a result of our dysfunctional relationship with nature. There are many things we can do to help make our world a more environmentally healthy one.